We all sat there and talked, getting to know Connor a little more. I was
hoping I could get him out of his shell and hopefully get him to my aunts
tonight so that I could figure out what was going on at home that made him so
afraid. I cared for the kid, even though I wouldn’t date him, I had a feeling I
needed to protect him.

“So Connor, I take it you know Sylls’ secret?” Kiva questioned.

“Ye..Yeah…it still kind of sends me for a ride whenever he talks to me,
but I’m getting used to it.”

“Well that’s good, he doesn’t want you to be uncomfortable I’m sure,
Right Syll?”

“Of course not, why do you think I brought him here? He seems like a good
kid who needs friends.” I responded.

“How did you know I didn’t have friends?” he asked as the sadness was
rolling off him.

“Connor, you radiated the need for companionship while you were drawing,
you were in the library at lunch and I feel the need to protect you, that’s
why.” While explaining this to him I put my arm around him and drew him into a
little sideways hug to try and comfort him.

“Nobody has really paid attention to me at all, they think I’m some dumb
14 year old freshman, but you guys accepted me as if you had known me for a long
time, I just don’t understand.” More sadness kept coming off him, I pushed
calming thoughts towards him so that he wouldn’t cry and embarrass himself. I
had made up my mind that I will get him over to my aunts even if I have to
compel his father to let him.

“Connor, we are accepting of everyone, if anyone of us had noticed you
were alone all the time we would have stepped in just as Syll did,” Blaise said
trying to help.

“Hey I have an idea, why don’t you come over to my aunts with me tonight?
We can go swimming or watch movies, plus everyone will be there later on at
night.” I offered hoping he would say yes.

“My dad wouldn’t let me; he doesn’t really let me do anything.”

“Just leave that to me and my aunt to handle, together we can get parents
to do anything,” I replied in a chuckle. My instincts were going in overdrive
telling me to take care of him and that something wasn’t going well at home.

[Guys, why don’t you give us some space while I talk to him
and figure out what’s going on. I’ll see you all tonight.] I broadcasted to
everyone but Connor. Just a few seconds later they all came up with some excuses
to get going, homework and chores mainly.

“Connor, look at me”

“Why do you want me around Syll? I’m nothing special; you
made your point when you said you wouldn’t date me.” He muttered as his eyes
were downcast.

“That wasn’t what I had said. I told that you weren’t my
type that’s all man, that doesn’t mean I don’t want you as a friend. I also told
you I wouldn’t mind hanging out with you, meaning I like you as a friend.” I
gently told him as I held his chin so I could look him in the eye.

“Thanks, but I still don’t see why.”

“In time you will, right now you’re just a little shocked I
think. Let’s see what we can do about your dad okay?”

“Okay Syll, I don’t think he will but I hope you can
convince him, I don’t want to go home to him” Once again a massive amount of
fear swept through him. That steeled my emotions even more to get him to my
aunts.

“No worries, I’m good with parents.” I told him as I hugged
him sending soothing and warm energy as best as I could.

As I was hugging him my phone went off with my families’
rings tone.

{Hello?}

{I’m here; I’m parked out by the schools’ pool}

{Okay I’m on my way just give me a few, a friend of mine is coming with,
do you think we could give him a ride home so that he can pick some stuff up
from his house so he can come over?}

{Sure, not a problem, I’ll be waiting} And with that our conversation was
over. I told Connor what the plan was and we started walking to my aunt’s car.
On our way to her car I let her know telepathically what was going on.

[Sora, I have a feeling things aren’t going well for him at home, he put
off massive amounts of fear whenever he brought it up. I would like you to help
me in getting him over to your house.]

[I can tell you feel strongly about this, I’ll do what I can, but we
should be courteous as well.]

[Thank you Aunt Sora.]

I could see her black Subaru Tribeca as we finished talking. I led Connor
over to the car and hoped that we would be able to get him to stay. As we
climbed in my aunt Sora introduced herself.

“Hi I’m Sora Moradin, Sylls’ aunt, I hope you had a good day at school
you two.”

“Hello Mrs. Moradin, I’m Connor Brandt, it was a pretty good day,
thankfully I wasn’t given homework.”

“Oh please call me Sora, makes me feel old when people call me by my last
name.” she chuckled out.

“Now where is your house so that we can get you home and so you can grab
what you need.”

“I live down Van Buren on Rancho Escondido. Do you know where Suttles
is?”

“Yes I do, it’s not too far from my house.” My aunt told him, and with
that she drove off. I thought I might try to talk to Connor a little about what
he likes to do.

“So Connor, what kind of things to do you like to do at home? Do you have
an Xbox or PS3?”

“No I have a PS2, but I like to read or watch TV if I’m not able to play
my PS2. I used to be in martial arts, but I haven’t been able to do it since my
mom died.”

“I’m sorry to hear that man, how long ago did she die?”

“Four years ago, that’s when things started getting bad at home, my dad
drinks a lot, and I do all the house work.” I was appalled at what he had told
me, he was only 14, he should be out having fun, not slaving away for his drunk
father.

“I’m really sorry to hear that man, I wish there was something I could
do.” He didn’t say anymore the entire drive there, and I just held him, not
wanting to press for more information.

As we were driving down Rancho Escondido he told us his house was just up
ahead, so my aunt slowed down so he could show us which one it was. When he
pointed it out we pulled into the driveway of an older looking house that had an
older green Ford Taurus in the driveway, I looked like it hadn’t been washed in
weeks. We all got out of the car and started walking towards the door when all
of a sudden we heard a loud noise inside, my aunt just turned to look at Connor
but he just sighed and opened the door.

“Dad I’m home, I brought a friend!” He hollered.

“Get your ass in here!! You know better than to bring a friend over and
not ask for permission!” His father yelled back in a drunken slur. We followed
Connor into the living room where his father was sitting in a lazy boy, beer in
one hand and remote in the other.

“Good afternoon Mr. Brandt, my name is Sora Moradin I apologize for any
intrusion we have caused, it just my nephew here asked if I could take his
friend home and I had no problem with it since it was on the way. I was also
wondering if your son would like to come to our house tonight, as we are having
a little party celebrating my husband’s promotion at work.”

“I don’t give a rats ass who you are, my son also knows better than to
take rides from strangers and he certainly knows better than to try to have
someone else ask for him to go out…think you were sneaky eh? Get your ass in
your room now you little faggot before I beat you!”

“Excuse me Mr. Brandt, but that is no way to treat a child. I’ll have you
know I work for Child Protective Services, and I see you are in no way shape or
form a proper parent for this young man. As of this moment I am placing him in
protective custody of the State of California.”

“You can’t do that!! He is my son, I will see that you’re fired from your
job!! I told you to get to your ROOM!!” Before I could even react he had slapped
Conner across the face which sent him sprawling to the ground only to slam into
the cupboards in the kitchen and be knocked out cold.

“I’m calling the police, Syll take Connor to his room and lock the door.”
I moved as quickly as I could to take Connor to his room. My aunt could handle
herself if she ever had to go to blows with the man. Once in his room I laid him
on the bed and started to gather up some things of his he might want and put
them into a suitcase I had found in his closet. As I was finishing putting his
stuff in the suitcase
Connor started coming to and groaning.

“Unh…What happened?”

“Your father hit you, after he did that my aunt called the police and
told me to bring you in here, she is out with your father right now and I’m sure
there is a cop there too as I heard someone knock on the door.” I responded as I
went to his side to hold him. He immediately latched onto me and started crying
his eyes out. I just held him, gently rocking him. No child should ever have to
endure this. Just then there was a knock on the door which caused Connor to jump
in fright.

“Son this is the police, I need you to open the door so we can speak with
you okay?”

“I need to hear from my aunt Sora in order to open the door, otherwise I
will leave this door locked and treat you as a threat to my friend Connor.” I
replied readying myself for a fight.